#it's my 3rd christmas in germany

[ionomycin]

My favorite pieces this year

[lunarharp]

hehe. almost christmas!

[purlturtle]

German Reunification/Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)

Today, October 3rd, is German Reunification, or Unity, Day. The literal translation of Einheit is unity, the commemoration is of the reunification of East and West Germany, so I put both into the headline. The official English name of the holiday is German Unity Day.

October 3rd is a national holiday in Germany, and as I might have mentioned before, it is my absolute favorite.

Why?

Two reasons: one, it is not a religious one. And two, it's a celebration of a remarkable event: a peaceful revolution. More on both points under the readmore; I'll also add my personal experiences (as a ten-year-old) with the Fall of the Berlin Wall in a reblog.

Germany has nine* country-wide holidays, of which only two, today and May 1st, are unequivocally non-religious (May 1st being, of course, Labor/May Day). And only October 3 is an actual federal holiday (as in, enshrined in federal, as opposed to state, law).

(*dear German pea counters, or nit-pickers of other nationalities: yes, we have more public holidays than that, but they differ by state. Only nine are recognized in every single German state: Neujahr (New Year's Day), Karfreitag (Good Friday), Ostermontag (Easter Monday), Maifeiertag/Tag der Arbeit (Labor Day/May Day), Himmelfahrt (Ascension), Pfingstmontag (Pentecost) Tag der Deutschen Einheit (German Unity Day), erster und zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag (Christmas Day and Dec 26). And if you think Neujahr isn't connected to religion: have you ever asked people of other religions when *their* new year is?)

Also, October 3rd marks an occasion that is unprecedented in the history of this country (and perhaps even this part of the world): the fall of a regime without a single battle fought, a single shot fired. Many factors came together to allow for this; if the Soviet Union hadn't been on a massive decline that caused her to step back from the aggressive Brezhnev Doctrine ("any threat to socialist rule in any state of the Soviet Bloc is a threat to them all, and therefore justifies intervention"), it wouldn't have happened. If Gorbachev hadn't implemented his policies of Glasnost and Perestroika, it wouldn't have happened. If the East German people hadn't amassed and persisted in their peaceful demonstrations, it wouldn't have happened. If Hungary hadn't opened her borders or the Prague embassy her doors, it wouldn't have happened. If Schabowski hadn't said what he said in the press conference, it wouldn't have happened. If any Berlin border crossing guard had decided (or been instructed) to use lethal force, it wouldn't have happened. And no, neither Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" nor David Hasselhoff's concert was in any way crucial; those are some nice 'Murican myths some people like to tell themselves.

There are plenty of things to criticize about the ensuing political and social process of the reunification - it has left plenty of scars, economic, social, political, that endure to this day, especially in the eastern states - but every year on this day, Germany celebrates the success of those of its people, predominantly in the East, who stated, over and over again, "Wir sind das Volk": we are the people. As in "for the people and by the people", you know? And the will of the people was heard, could not be denied, and thus came about. And fuck yeah, that is worth celebrating.

Important side note on the date: the Wall came down on November 9, 1989. All those pictures you might remember, of people standing on top of the wall? That was November 9. Then why, you may ask, was November 9 not chosen as the holiday to celebrate this? Because November 9 is, among other things, also the date of the Night of Broken Glass, the first Nazi-led mass attack on Jewish businesses, synagogues, private homes etc. - and celebrating anything on this day, in Germany, is poor taste to say the least. October 3rd was the date on which the new eastern states joined the rest of the German states in formal reunification, and so was chosen as the date for the holiday.

If you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask - I'm not a historian, but I'll still try to find you answers!

[bearsinpotatosacks]

Thought I'd do a post about my top gun timeline. I say mine because I'm autistic and it took me almost a year to pick up on all the implied things about when and how certain things happened.

For example, I thought that Mav would just reapply for the Naval Academy, and didn't know you could join OCS straight out of high school. When I realised that Goose meant that Mav didn’t go to the Academy (that and no Academy ring), so made Mav go to Uni. I then switched the dates back a year until I finally searched whether you could join OCS immediately after high school and you can. This was a bit of a polarising realisation, I've written a lot of fics with my timeline, so I'm just going to have 2 timelines and specify which (on AO3 I'll make a separate series for the 'canon' timeline)

Onto the timeline! Dates in bold are canon ones, italics is my fics (with links to them on AO3!)

1943- Slider's grandma flees Germany with his mum and aunt

3rd October 1959- Nicholas "Goose" Bradshaw is born

27th November 1959- Carole Bradshaw, née Edwards (yes after Anthony Edwards) is born

11th December 1960- Tom "Iceman" Kazansky is born

6th March 1960- Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is born

21st April 1960- Ronald "Slider" Kerner is born

8th March 1965- US Officially enters the Vietnam War

5th November 1965- Duke Mitchell dies

28th January 1973- US part in Vietnam War ends

1973- Goose's dad dies

1978- Goose, Mav, Carole, Slider and Iceman graduate high school. Mav goes to University in Annapolis after not getting into the Naval Academy. Carole travels in the summer and settles in Annapolis.

1979- Goose and Carole start dating, Mav and Carole move in together

1981- Carole gets pregnant

1982- Bradley Nicholas "Rooster" Bradshaw is born, Only a Dad but the Best of Men and Bradley’s First Christmas take place

1983- Goose and Carole get married

1984- Carole's dad dies, Home is Where the Heart Is, Knight in Pearly White and Perfect Fit take place

June/July 1986- Events of Top Gun happen, Goose dies, A Ghost We'll Never Get to See and Soft Musk of Nighttime take place

1997- Carole gets diagnosed with Stage 4 Terminal Cancer and dies, Heaven Feels Closer than those Tears on Your Face, Halfway to Heaven and A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing take place

2000- Mav pulls Rooster's papers, Rooster's goes to University, A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing takes place

2004- Rooster graduates University and goes to the Naval Academy

2008- Rooster graduates the Naval Academy

2010- Iceman gets diagnosed with throat cancer

2017- Events of Top Gun: Maverick take place, An Old Friend Turned New and a Procession No One Can Follow After take place

That's it, for now I guess. I may update this with more fics. I'll also create a post for my interpretation of the 'canon' timeline, with Goose and Mav meeting in flight school, Bradley being born in 1984 (something I don't really agree with but it's nothing major) and TGM taking place before June/July 2016 (because Mav says "that was almost 30 years ago" when Cyclone mentions he was a top gun instructor showing that it isn't past 2016 but tell me if that's reading too much into it)

[limoncats]

gonna visit Germany tmrw for Christmas holidays i'll (presumably) be back on the 26th

i wish you all the happiest Christmas, and it'll be OMORI's 3rd anniversary! happy anni!!

i might log into tumblr on my phone, so i might post a little

anyway when i come back pls tell me what i missed

and...

Merry Christmas!

[brookston]

Holidays 12.19

Holidays

Advocacy Day (Ukraine)

Almanack Day

Bantha Appreciation Day (Star Wars)

Build a Snowman Day

A Christmas Carol Day

Digital Twin Day

E-Mail Santa Claus Just in Case He Didn't Get Your Letter Day [ mailroom ] 

Fiesta of Santo Tomas begins (Guatemala; until 25th)

Gender Critical Coming Out Day

Goa Liberation Day (India)

Holly Day

I've Got My Big Guy Fat Pants On Day

Liberation Day (Goa)

Look for an Evergreen Day

Mitch Marner Day (Canada)

National Emo Day

National Harry Day

National Heroes & Heroines Day (Anguilla)

Olive Day (French Republic)

Robinson Crusoe Rescue Day

Thorn Cutting Ceremony (Glastonbury, Somerset, UK)

Yuletide Lad #8 arrives (Skyrgamur or Skyr-Gobbler; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Pizza Day

Cream Liqueur Day

Currant Buns Day (UK)

National Hard Candy Day

National Oatmeal Muffin Day

3rd Tuesday in December

Christmas Cookie House Day [3rd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Børge (a.k.a. Republic of Libri; Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Republic of Lakotah (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Adam (Christian; Saint)

Anastasius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Asgard Day (Pagan)

The Bee (Muppetism)

Bernard Valeara (Christian; Saint)

Cavendish (Positivist; Saint)

Dalek Remembrance Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of Goddess of Sankrant (Hindu)

Juventas Festival (Ancient Rome)

Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church)

Lorenzo di Medici Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Nathan Oliveira (Artology)

Nemesion (Christian; Saint)

Opalia (Celebrating Ops, the old Roman Mother Earth)

O Radix Jesse (3rd O Antiphon or Great Advent Antiphon; Christian) [O Root of Jesse; 3 of 7]

Robot Awareness Day (Pastafarian)

Saint Nicholas Day (Eastern Christian) [Ukraine]

Samthann of Meath (Christian; Saint)

Urban V, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [49 of 53]

Prime Number Day: 353 [71 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 58 of 60)

Premieres

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1980)

Babes in Toyland (TV Movie; 1986)

Bars of Steal or The Hard Cell (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 136; 1961)

Being There (Film; 1979)

Blue Suede Shoes, recorded by Carl Perkins (Song; 1955)

Boris Badenov and His Friends? (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 135; 1961)

Captain Blood (Film; 1935)

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (Novella; 1843)

A Clockwork Orange (Film; 1971)

Deal or No Deal (TV game Show; 2005)

The Fellowship of the Ring (Film; 2001) [Lord of the Rings #1]

From All of Us to All of You (Animated Disney TV Christmas Special; 1958)

Judgment at Nuremberg (Film; 1961)

Kramer vs. Kramer (Film; 1979)

Laughing Boy:A Navajo Love Story, by Oliver La Farge (Novel; 1929)

The Little Drummer Boy (Xmas Song; 1958)

Little Shop of Horrors (Film; 1986)

The Man with the Golden Gun (UK Film; 1974) [James Bond #9]

Mary Poppins Returns (Film; 2018)

Mona Lisa Smile (Film; 2003)

Monsters, Inc. (Animated Pixar Film; 2012)

More Kittens (Disney Cartoon; 1936)

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Film; 2014)

9 to 5 (Film; 1980)

People Are Bunny (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Platoon (Film; 1986)

Porky in the North Woods (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Punch Trunk (WB LT Cartoon; 1953)

Raging Bull (Film; 1980)

Seems Like Old Times (Film; 1980)

Song of the Sea (Animated Film; 2014)

A Symposium on Popular Songs (Disney Cartoon; 1962)

The Tale of Desperaux (Animated Film; 2008)

Titanic (Film; 1997)

Tomorrow Never Dies (US Film; 1997) [James Bond #18]

Topaz (Film; 1969)

Yes Man (Film; 2008)

Zero Dark Thirty (Film; 2012)

Today’s Name Days

Benjamin, Susanne (Austria)

Anastazije, Eva, Tea, Urban, Vladimir (Croatia)

Ester (Czech Republic)

Nemesius (Denmark)

Maarius, Mairo, Mario (Estonia)

Iikka, Iiro, Iisakki, Isko (Finland)

Urbain (France)

Benjamin, Susanna (Germany)

Aglaia, Aris (Greece)

Viola (Hungary)

Dario (Italy)

Jordisa, Lelde, Minjona, Sarmis (Latvia)

Darijus, Gerdvilas, Rimantė (Lithuania)

Isak, Iselin (Norway)

Abraham, Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela, Mścigniew, Nemezjusz, Tymoteusz, Urban (Poland)

Aglaia, Bonifatie, Grichentie, Trifon (Romania)

Judita (Slovakia)

Darío, Eva (Spain)

Isak (Sweden)

Boniface, Mecheslav, Mecheslava (Ukraine)

Daria, Darian, Darien, Dario, Darion, Darius, Haysten (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 353 of 2024; 12 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 51 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 7 (Xin-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 7 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 6 Jumada II 1445

J Cal: 23 Zima; Twosday [23 of 30]

Julian: 6 December 2023

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 17 Bichat (13th Month) [Cavendish]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 88 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 28 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.19

Holidays

Advocacy Day (Ukraine)

Almanack Day

Bantha Appreciation Day (Star Wars)

Build a Snowman Day

A Christmas Carol Day

Digital Twin Day

E-Mail Santa Claus Just in Case He Didn't Get Your Letter Day [ mailroom ] 

Fiesta of Santo Tomas begins (Guatemala; until 25th)

Gender Critical Coming Out Day

Goa Liberation Day (India)

Holly Day

I've Got My Big Guy Fat Pants On Day

Liberation Day (Goa)

Look for an Evergreen Day

Mitch Marner Day (Canada)

National Emo Day

National Harry Day

National Heroes & Heroines Day (Anguilla)

Olive Day (French Republic)

Robinson Crusoe Rescue Day

Thorn Cutting Ceremony (Glastonbury, Somerset, UK)

Yuletide Lad #8 arrives (Skyrgamur or Skyr-Gobbler; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Pizza Day

Cream Liqueur Day

Currant Buns Day (UK)

National Hard Candy Day

National Oatmeal Muffin Day

3rd Tuesday in December

Christmas Cookie House Day [3rd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Børge (a.k.a. Republic of Libri; Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Republic of Lakotah (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Adam (Christian; Saint)

Anastasius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Asgard Day (Pagan)

The Bee (Muppetism)

Bernard Valeara (Christian; Saint)

Cavendish (Positivist; Saint)

Dalek Remembrance Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of Goddess of Sankrant (Hindu)

Juventas Festival (Ancient Rome)

Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church)

Lorenzo di Medici Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Nathan Oliveira (Artology)

Nemesion (Christian; Saint)

Opalia (Celebrating Ops, the old Roman Mother Earth)

O Radix Jesse (3rd O Antiphon or Great Advent Antiphon; Christian) [O Root of Jesse; 3 of 7]

Robot Awareness Day (Pastafarian)

Saint Nicholas Day (Eastern Christian) [Ukraine]

Samthann of Meath (Christian; Saint)

Urban V, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [49 of 53]

Prime Number Day: 353 [71 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 58 of 60)

Premieres

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1980)

Babes in Toyland (TV Movie; 1986)

Bars of Steal or The Hard Cell (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 136; 1961)

Being There (Film; 1979)

Blue Suede Shoes, recorded by Carl Perkins (Song; 1955)

Boris Badenov and His Friends? (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 135; 1961)

Captain Blood (Film; 1935)

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (Novella; 1843)

A Clockwork Orange (Film; 1971)

Deal or No Deal (TV game Show; 2005)

The Fellowship of the Ring (Film; 2001) [Lord of the Rings #1]

From All of Us to All of You (Animated Disney TV Christmas Special; 1958)

Judgment at Nuremberg (Film; 1961)

Kramer vs. Kramer (Film; 1979)

Laughing Boy:A Navajo Love Story, by Oliver La Farge (Novel; 1929)

The Little Drummer Boy (Xmas Song; 1958)

Little Shop of Horrors (Film; 1986)

The Man with the Golden Gun (UK Film; 1974) [James Bond #9]

Mary Poppins Returns (Film; 2018)

Mona Lisa Smile (Film; 2003)

Monsters, Inc. (Animated Pixar Film; 2012)

More Kittens (Disney Cartoon; 1936)

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Film; 2014)

9 to 5 (Film; 1980)

People Are Bunny (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Platoon (Film; 1986)

Porky in the North Woods (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Punch Trunk (WB LT Cartoon; 1953)

Raging Bull (Film; 1980)

Seems Like Old Times (Film; 1980)

Song of the Sea (Animated Film; 2014)

A Symposium on Popular Songs (Disney Cartoon; 1962)

The Tale of Desperaux (Animated Film; 2008)

Titanic (Film; 1997)

Tomorrow Never Dies (US Film; 1997) [James Bond #18]

Topaz (Film; 1969)

Yes Man (Film; 2008)

Zero Dark Thirty (Film; 2012)

Today’s Name Days

Benjamin, Susanne (Austria)

Anastazije, Eva, Tea, Urban, Vladimir (Croatia)

Ester (Czech Republic)

Nemesius (Denmark)

Maarius, Mairo, Mario (Estonia)

Iikka, Iiro, Iisakki, Isko (Finland)

Urbain (France)

Benjamin, Susanna (Germany)

Aglaia, Aris (Greece)

Viola (Hungary)

Dario (Italy)

Jordisa, Lelde, Minjona, Sarmis (Latvia)

Darijus, Gerdvilas, Rimantė (Lithuania)

Isak, Iselin (Norway)

Abraham, Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela, Mścigniew, Nemezjusz, Tymoteusz, Urban (Poland)

Aglaia, Bonifatie, Grichentie, Trifon (Romania)

Judita (Slovakia)

Darío, Eva (Spain)

Isak (Sweden)

Boniface, Mecheslav, Mecheslava (Ukraine)

Daria, Darian, Darien, Dario, Darion, Darius, Haysten (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 353 of 2024; 12 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 51 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 7 (Xin-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 7 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 6 Jumada II 1445

J Cal: 23 Zima; Twosday [23 of 30]

Julian: 6 December 2023

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 17 Bichat (13th Month) [Cavendish]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 88 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 28 of 30)

[findetdeutschland]

Family pt. 2

Finally, we’re going to move into the identity function of family culture. In Germany, there are many different traditions that they like to celebrate that make up the identity of a child in Deutschland. Something I found interesting is that when a person is pregnant, it is considered bad luck to throw them a “baby shower” before the baby is born, or even wishing someone happy birthday before they are born. When it comes to naming the baby, it’s common to choose a name that will not negatively affect the child or be named an androgenous name. By that I mean that males will be named more masculine and female babies will be name for feminine names, and you cannot name them the same name as the legal surname. German families will also plant trees when a baby girl is born and sell them when they get married and use the money for her dowry. Another aspect of culture pertains to gender roles taught by families. Traditionally, men are heads of the household, however men and woman have equal rights, and both make decisions when it comes to family. Typically, about 70% of mothers will leave the house to work, however around 40% of them only work part time. The extended family, like grandparents will usually live in separate houses, since there is a very strong individualistic value that is enforced from a very young age. On the bright side, however, individuals between the ages of 65 to 85 state that they have very close connections with their children and grandchildren full of love, advice, and sometimes financial support if needed. A majority of elders in that same group live active lives and focus on maintaining their health. Christmas is a huge event where some towns will dress up their entire city as a Christmas wonderland with markets and trees galore! One tradition that is pretty common even here in the U.S. is advent calendars before the big day! But something that you might have not heard of is that generally families will wait until Christmas Eve to decorate their personal trees. So, for all those holiday haters out there, you can just tell people your following German traditions and that’s why you don’t have a tree up yet! Another traditional holiday they celebrate is October 3rd, which is where both sides of Germany were reunited in 1990 and so they hold an event that is similar to U.S. Independence Day! With all of this being said, German culture has a lovely mix of both old traditions and also new elements entangled in with the old. The impact of globalization has really affected the country in the best of ways, in my personal opinion. Most of the changes are related to the general opinions of other becoming more open and accepting of others and their choices. For example, it is fairly common for couples to not have children or even get married after a child is born. LGBTQI+ couples are also becoming more common too! On the same vein of more progressive ideas, there has been a recent push towards fathers becoming more involved in taking care of the babies when they are born, rather than just leaving it to just the mothers.

[sastrugie]

Your poem is gorgeous! So much truth in love and despair being kindred feelings. Thank you so much for sharing.

Harry & Eggsy are from the first two! I'm obsessed with Kingsman, so I'm glad you like them :D The fic I recommended is a crossover of the first 2 with the 3rd one!

Do you like any Christmas music? or any other traditions around the winter time?

Thank you sfm 🥺🥺🥺 I love writing about feelings so this was a must bc I find happy and sad so closely connected.

Yes true they weren't in the 3rd one ! I just love the time of the third one like early 20th Century ?! Sign me up !!!

I like Christmas music esp the old 50s-80s songs like the classics "let it snow" "wonderful Christmas time" "war os over" "thank god it's Christmas" "jingle bells" "sleigh ride" and so on 😊 my fav tradition is probably either Nikolaus (in Germany you put sweets in the shoes of your loved ones on 6th December.) or also just the calm evening of the 24th

Hbu ?

[themindrevisited]

IMG_9691

It’s October 3rd. I have just finished reading John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed, and for some reason, it kindled a desire to just dump my thoughts into this hollow chamber--which admittedly, I’ve long ran away from. 

I have a lot of thoughts about what I’ve just read, aside from the fact that I have to write a 500-word reflection paper about it for my regularization. And yes, it’s not for graduate school--it’s for my work. My ever capitalist organization wants me to include my personal development as part of my performance review. Neat. 

What’s interesting about my thoughts about what I’ve read isn’t really about what I read, it’s what about I remembered while I was reading it. 

In his third to the last essay in this book, John Green briefly discussed Three Farmers on Their Way on a Dance, a photograph taken by August Sanders in 1914. This photograph was part of his unfinished project of People in the 20th Century, which aimed to photograph all sorts of people in Germany at that time. John then went on to explain how much he loved this photograph, and how it both reflects what we know and what we do not know. 

Last September, I received a warning from my Google account that I have already used up 80% of the free 15GB storage that comes with my Google Drive. I was told either to back-up some files and delete them from the cloud, or, I could do their suggested capitalistic option, which is to buy a subscription for an increase in my storage. I chose the former, not only because I found it expensive, but also because most of my saved files are actually trash, and are for removal. As I was sifting through my files, I came across a shared album by one of my blockmates back in college, which contained our pictures from our Christmas Party in 2017. The album had 118 pictures in total, including 8 videos of us playing games and dancing with Jollibee (yes, the mascot). And in those 118 pictures, there was one picture that surprisingly stopped me from scrolling down. It had a file name of IMG_9691, and is a group photo of you, together with your close-knit friends smiling towards the camera. 

If it were 5 years ago, another photograph would’ve made me stop from scrolling. If it were 3 years ago, this photograph would’ve made me reminisce. However, in September 2022, after almost 5 years after being shot, this photograph made me smile.

I find it ironic that while we existed in the same continuum, in the same place, and in the same journey with you for 4 years, I knew you, but I had no cognizance of who you were. For most of my days back then, you were just 10 steps away from me, and I was a minute far from starting a conversation with you. I had no idea what your thoughts sounded like, what your emotions felt like, or how graceful your actions are. All I knew five years ago was I was there with you when the picture was taken. I knew who took the picture, and I knew where you sat. I knew you were part of my life, but I knew you were on sidelines, shadowed by everyone else. 

What I didn’t know is how that photograph would look like for me five years after. I didn’t know that I would be looking at this photograph with a feeling of warmth, fondness and endearment. I didn’t know that I would hear what your thoughts sounded like, understand what your emotions felt like, or notice the rhythm of your actions. I didn’t know that I would want to have a cognizance of who you are, or that I would strive to find you amongst the shadows that once were a part of me.  

In one part of this essay, John Green quoted Anaïs Nin, that “We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are.” 

And I think it holds true. This photograph is not merely a memory of the past, but rather, it is a photograph of the future I want to be a part of. 

And hopefully, when I look back at this writing, it will already be the present that I am living in. 

I give IMG_9691 four out of five stars.

[kmp78]

Yes, it is! That "sausage festival" was very intensive.😜🐍. 😎🤪What goes on in your mind is likely far more reaching or exotic than what is likely going as AM and JL enjoy Italy with family (AMs) and friends. And maybe it’s you who needs a slightly different kind of sausage fest to get your mind out of other peoples panties.

The only sausage I personally want is one of those epic Christmas Market sausages they serve in Germany... 🤤🤤🤤😭

I swear to god if I have to live through a 3rd Christmas without getting to go on my annual Euro Market trip!!! 😤🤬

[myblckcty]

Harold Rapp III | Saxophonist

Join My Black City in Celebrating and Supporting Harold Rapp III | Saxophonist. We Shine Brighter Together. #MyBlackCity https://myblackcity.org/harold-rapp-iii-saxophonist/?feed_id=15810 >> Harold Rapp III was born in New Orleans as a second generation PK (Preacher’s Kid) and was raised in the church. His love for the sax came at age 10 and he started his career as a performer by 12. >> Open in Spotify Biography of Harold Rapp III Harold Rapp III was born in New Orleans as a second generation PK (Preacher’s Kid) and was raised in the church. His love for the sax came at age 10 and he started his career as a performer by 12. His influence comes from his early years living in Germany as a child of a military family. Later, he moved back to the US and spent several years on bases in Louisiana and California before finally settling on Colorado. Though he grew up listening to gospel and performed at the church, his father planted a seed by exposing him to various types jazz, including smooth jazz. His chief influence growing up was gospel performer, Angela Christie. While attending college at the Lamont School of Music at Denver University and Metro State, he began listening to urban saxophonist like Gerald Albright, who later became his mentor, and David Sanborn. The road wasn’t always easy for him as he ran into many bumps, edgy twists and turns on his road to becoming a recording artist and renowned performer. It was only by his faith in God and a very driven determination that he triumphed gracefully over adversity. Harold has performed with artists such as Hazel Miller, Selina Albright (daughter of saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, Gerald Albright), The Hot Lunch Band, Jessie Campbell from the Voice, George Huff from American Idol, Andrew Woolfolk of Earth, Wind & Fire, Timothy Wright, Israel Houghton and Grammy Award winning Gospel artist Kirk Franklin. There’s no shortage of organizations that he has performed for, like the Colorado Black Arts Movement. He is an active member of the Potter’s House of Denver, where he plays in the band. He’s also performed for professional sports organizations, such as the Denver Nuggets and the Kansas City Chiefs. Recordings: 3rd Degree Set Apart Expressions of Christmas Funk It Up (produced by James Roberson and Gerald Albright)

[chere-indolente]

WW1 Uniforms : German

It seemed like the perfect occasion to mention the 1914 Christmas truce so here are some uniforms for the Great War, the first of a few I have in the works. Happy Holidays everyone 😊

More pics and download below.

During 1914 truces and fraternization between opposing forces on the western front weren’t rare especially between the British and the Germans. On Christmas in many places troops met on the no man’s land, sang christmas carols, played football/soccer and exchange season greetings, food, cigarettes and alcohol together. I believe I also read somewhere that german lines were decorated with candles and christmas trees.

In 1915 truces were less common as the hierarchy wanted to avoid further fraternization and not repeat the events of the previous year’s Christmas truce (at least on the Allied’s side as far as I know). But even then and in the following war years there are records of some troops meeting, singing, exchanging gifts during cease fire on various celebrations sometimes despite orders.

——————————— Pickelhaube ———————————

—————————————————————————————

The Pickelhaube was a spiked helmet worn by the germans and prussians military, in this case it is featured with its cloth helmet cover (Überzug) which was used since 1892 to keep it clean and to make it less visible in combat as the uncovered helmet was quite shiny. At some point during the war the Pickelhaube’s spike was made detachable so that soldiers could wear them spikeless on the front (but there’s only so many military german helmet meshes I’m willing to make).

Hat slider compatible

2 swatches : 1 clean and 1 dirty

If you want a Pickelhaube without the helmet cover, you can find one here.

———————————— Stahlhelm ———————————

—————————————————————————————

The Stahlhelm was a steel helmet made to provide further head protection to the soldiers because the leather Pickelhaube didn’t do much against shrapnel, grenade and shell fragments. They were distributed to the troops in early 1916 and, with not much change to the shape until 1942, remained the military helmet in Germany (but don’t use my cc to make nazi uniforms thank you).

DON’T use it to make nazi uniforms

Hat slider compatible

2 swatches : 1 clean and 1 dirty

—————————— German Uniform ——————————

—————————————————————————————

As I don’t speak german I had a bit of a hard time finding precise informations for these ones so I mostly sticked to replicating remaining WW1 german uniforms and pictures of german soldiers. The 1st swatch is meant for 1914-1916 infantry soldiers, the 2nd is the same but with gold stripes on the collar and sleeves but I didn’t manage to figure out what exact rank it would be suited for and the 3rd one is meant for 1916-1918 infantry soldiers. (I didn’t find examples with stripes or insignias for 1916-1918 so I abstained from making a 4th swatch)

Mesh needed : @waxesnostalgic​‘s British Army Enlisted Uniform  

3 swatches

————————————— Boots —————————————

—————————————————————————————

Just some simple leather boots because I needed some that would fit above the uniform’s mesh.

Unisex

5 swatches : 1 black, 3 browns and 1 grey

—————————————————————————————

Download : dropbox — simfileshare

—————————————————————————————

[neptuneofthesky]

MCC 16 WINNER’S POV [RECAP]

PINK PARROTS

BADBOYHALO

DREAM

F1NNE5TER

SEAPEEKAY

Dream’s skin had a purple ribbon on it (everyone else was wearing it), I saw it on 5upp’s stream, at first I was just switching, because there was a lot of time left, I was on Bad’s munchy mc stream first, then I was on Fundy, Punz, Jack, etc, and also, George looked so freaking cool what? Then I stayed there and watched George training ponk, it was so fun to watch lmao, he literally had a stopwatch and whistle with him, then Quackity joined the server, and he was using that demonic autotune and then Quackity and Ponk and a speed bridge race, which was just chaos, and then Quackity asked for Ponk’s meat, and then they had fun in the fun zone, then Quackity turned off his autotune, and then George said that if then had fun in the fun zone he’ll give them a prize, and as you expected they had fun in the fun zone, it was really fun to watch lmao.

“Forfeit Deez Nutz bitch” - Quackity to Ponk, 2021

And then I went to Wilbur's stream for a second, where he was talking about fart spaces, then I went to Ranboo’s stream, where he was talking about that he will turn off his face cam while the actual game.

Then I went to poop.

Then I went back to George's stream, where they were just fooling around, I mean, practicing, and then Quackity said George's headband and wrist bands look like Italy but George said it was Germany.

Then George did a very very terrifying demonic laugh, I actually got scared, and then Callahan also joined the server.

“Wel,” - Quackity, 2021

“Come.” - Ponk, 2021

And then Callahan killed quackity and left the game.

And then they started fooling around, Callahan joined the game again.

“Ponk, I'm sorry I slept with your mother” - Quackity, 2021

And then Quackity and Ponk started a duel, Ponk won the first round.

“He slept with my momma!” - Ponk, 2021

Ponk also won the second round, but Quackity won the last round and then George played sad music.

And then I joined Bad’s stream, who was playing hole in the wall with Tommy and fell every. Single. Time.

And then he said that we literally don't know how much he practiced, and he said he muffined up his first mcc. And then he was just hyping himself up, he said he kind of had food poisoning.

“It’s victory or death, or maybe- maybe not death, or maybe, if I don't win, no muffins for one week.”- Badboyhalo, 2021

And then everybody left to go to the main server, and he was all alone, he didn't know there was a main server, and then he joined the main server.

“Victory tastes so much like Gatorade.” - Badboyhalo, 2021

And then he went to the burger shop, it was adorable lol.

“Everybody needs a little bit of violence in their life.” - Badboyhalo, 2021

“Violence with the spatula!” - Badboyhalo, 2021

I got scared, so I went to Dream’s stream.

Everyone was being so supportive in the chat I got emotional.

“Mcc is like Christmas morning.” - Dream, 2021

And then Seapeekay joined the call, then Bad also joined, Finn was just vibing.

And then Seapeekay gave an interview and then George and Sapnap were twerking on each other, Dream paused as he stared at them, Bad came in between them, and then George and Sapnap pretended like nothing happened.

Finn joined the call.

“I'm mugging you for your crown!” - Badboyhalo to Dream, 2021

Badboyhalo woke up and chose violence.

Also, Ranboo had 200k + viewers!

And then Dream distributed burgers and they all went to the decision dome.

Seapeekay boo-ed at build mart.

They decided to vote for grid runners, almost everyone wanted grid runners.

1st Game: Grid Runners

Dream said that he was the narrator and read the whole guide.

They decided if they had to split, Bad and Dream, and Seapeekay and Finn will stay together.

1st Challenge: Jungle Temple

They had to kill all the mobs

2nd Challenge: Bakery

They had to eat all the cakes present in the bakery

3rd Challenge: Sawmill

They had to push the gold; there were a couple of red stone powered buttons, and they had to push them at the same time to complete the challenge

4th Challenge: Wild west

They had to shoot the targets(mobs)

5th Challenge: Kitchen

They had to gather the items, like bread, steak, fish, etc

6th Challenge: Golf

There were four towers, and they had to punch each other on each tower, for example, Callum punched Bad in a tower, Callum also punched Finn and he also punched Dream to Finn, then Finn punched Dream to the final tower.

7th Challenge: Tower

They had to unlock the exit; they had to pull levers for the blocks to push ahead, as Dream complete a parkour course to reach a top to get a key and finish the challenge

8th Challenge: Prison

They had to copy a sculpture; Dream and Finn directed them, Bad and Callum placed the blocks, kind of like build mart, but the sculpture is in another room.

9th Challenge:

Just a simple race to reach the end

They ended up in 3rd place in this game!

Overall, they end up in 3rd place again.

Dream predicted that red will end up in dodgebolt.

Then he did an ad for mcc, promoting grid runners.

And then Callum and Dream went to watch the greens.

And then went to watch blue bats, who were stuck on the tower challenge. Then they hyped them up, but sadly blue couldn't complete the course, but they still did well!!

And then Rat made a barking appearance.

Niki was in the first place!!!<333 Good job Niki!!! (i smiled so hard)

And then Finn expressed excitement about mcc merch.

And then they went to decision dome,

2nd Game: Sky Battle

1st Round

They told they had a special strategy, their communication skills were looking good

Dream got 4 kills.

Bad got 1 kill.

Finn got 0 kills.

Callum got 2 kills.

They got 3rd place!

2nd Round

Ponk killed Bad

And Dream got George.

"I was a little too aggressive there." Dream, 2021

Dream got 5 kills.

Bad got 1 kill.

Finn got 1 kill.

Callum got 2 kills.

Then they re-strategized.

2nd round was really fun to watch

They ended up in 4th place!

3rd Round

The chemistry of Callum and Dream was amazing this round.

Dream got 6 kills.

Bad got 2 kills.

Finn got 2 kills.

Callum got 5 kills.

They got 6th place!

Dream was in 5th place in this game!

They were in 4th place overalls!!

Dream had a special strategy including the lava bucket, but the lava bucket was removed so it threw them off.

3rd Game: Parkour Tag

Ponk had to pee so they had to wait a little.

“You could pee on a desk!” Seapeekay and Dream, 2021

1st round

Dream was the hunter, he got them alL

Unfortunately, all the runners got hunted.

But since Dream hunted the opposite team quicker, they won this round.

2nd round

Dream was the hunter again, he also got them all quickly

This time all the runners were alive!!

They were also in the first place in the game.

3rd round

Seapeekay was hunting this time, he got them all!

The runners except Dream got hunted.

They were still in first place.

4th round

Seapeekay was he hunter again, they did the bait and switch (dream pretended he was the hunter), but he couldn't get George,

"Gogy didn't miss any jump." - Seapeekay, 20221

Finn was suddenly CRACKED in this round.

They tied but overall ended up in first place.

5th round

Seapeekay was the hunter again, he got them all

All the runners got tagged.

It was tied again, but they still won because they tagged them quicker.

They were in first place again overall!

6th round

Dream was the hunter he got them all really quickly,

All the runners got tagged by Sapnap (good job Sapnap<33)

But the pinks still won because they got them quicker.

they were in the first place again!

7th round

Finn is hunting this round, he only got 2 of the runners

All the runners got tagged by Quig!

They end up in 3rd place overall.

8th round

[Finn was doing a dream cosplay]

Seapeekay was the hunter this time, he got them all

All the runners got tagged too

But the pinks still won because they got them quicker.

They end up in second place overall.

9th round

Dream was the hunter, he got them all. (all of the reds)

All the runners were tagged too by Tommy. (good job Tommy!!)

Wilbur and dream had a… weird interaction lol

They won this time too for quickly tagging them.

They did really good this game!!

Dream was in the first place in this game!!

They ended up in 3rd place overall!!

Seapeekay complimented George's jumping skills.

They also complimented Captain Sparklz.

4th Game, TGTTOSAWAF

Seapeekay was determined to beat Philza Minecraft

Round 1

Callum - 1st (suck it Philza Minecraft)

Dream - 21st

Bad - 29th

Finn didnt get to finish, (it's alright!!<33)

Round 2

Dream - 1st

Callum - 10th

Finn - 20th

Bad - 33rd

“Knowing Tommy, he probably got in a punching match, he punched the wrong person and they were like, 'oh Tommy you are going down.' " - Dream, 2021

Round 3

Bad - 4th

Finn - 6th

Callum - 9th

Dream - 15th

They were the first team to finish and were in first place overall!!

“Where is my 1.7 trillion luck?!” - Dream, 2021

Round 4

Dream - 3rd

Callum - 11th

Finn - 15th

Bad - 18th

they were the first team to finish this time too and were also in first place overall again!!

also, Scott punched Niki off, but then he also apologized

Round 5

Finn - 10th

Callum - 12th

Dream - 20th

Bad - 39th (he could've finished early but a 'blue muffinhead' punched him off so he just bridged from the start lmao)

They were in first place overall!!

Round 6

Dream - 7th

Finn - 11th

Callum - 10th

Bad - 22nd

Their team was the second one to finish after aquas!!

They were in first place overall in the game!

Seapeakay was in 1st place, Dream was in 3rd in the game!

They were in 2nd place overall!!

Seapeekay was in all pink (he looked banger honestly)

Dream was in 2nd place overall!

Seapeekay got 3rd place overall!

5th Game: Survival Games

The twitter voting one, they told everyone to vote build mart, but then changed to sands of times (very rigged lmao, I got confused at the end)

everybody went to pee/water/etc, Dream was alone so he just stayed silent for the first minute then complemented Sapnap, and when everyone was back,

“Spinach slaps.” - Finnester, 2021

“Spinach is in the way of my screen.” - Finnester, 2021

When the game started, they did the buddy system, Seapeekay and Finn, Dream and Bad, and they technically decided to stick together.

Their communication and coordination were phenomenal.

Dream’s leadership skills, oh my god, just, perfection.

Even tho they lost, their communication was very very good.

“This whole game sticks on me” - Tommyinnit, 2021

Red rabbits were “arguing” in the chat lmao, what was really happening??

They ended up in 7th place in the game and 3rd place overall!

They all got crossbows as they all shot build mart chickens.

6th Game: Ace Race

Bad made sudden chicken noises out of nowhere making everyone laugh.

“What noise does a chicken make?” - Seapeekay, 2021

“Gobble gobble.” - Badboyhalo, 2021

“What noise does a chicken make? 'Hi I'm George.'” - Dream, 2021

“What is the national anthem for the UK?” - Badboyhalo, 2021

“Take it away Finn.”- Seapeekay, 2021

*Finn bursts out laughing*

Also, Dream did a skip at the starting of the course which got him from 18th to 3rd!

Dream - 3rd

Callum - 4th

Bad - 9th

Finn - 24th

They did really good!!

Dream had the fasted lap!

They ended up in first place this game!

They ended up in 2nd place overall!

Seapeekay in 5th, Dream in 4th overall!!

7th Game: Build Mart (tubbo cringe /j)

Tubbo fell in the decision dome and punched the chickens in build mart even tho most of the teams didnt want build mart.

"sapnap: tubbo SUCKS

tubbo: hi sapnap"

I was so confused the whole time, I kind of spaced out lmao, like build mart makes my head hurt not even joking.

They got 7th place in build mart!

They got 2nd place overall!!

aquas dunked pinks lol

8th Game: Sands Of Times

I don't really know how to explain sands of times, but it was super fun to watch, so I suggest you go watch it!! Their coordination and communication was super cool

"badboyhalo looks at a ravager: it's the rhino thingy! Is it a triceratop?"

And that sudden music in it, my soul left my body not even joking

Their team coins were 5439!

Dream three 3 tomatoes at Tommy,

Dream asked Niki if she wanted to throw tomatoes at anyone she wants, but she was beating herself up, Niki you did good<33

They got second place overall!! (8th place reddit? really?)

then something happened with dream's nails

The Final Showdown: Dodgebolt

Purple Pandas vs Pink Parrots

First-Round

Punz, Puffy, and Ponk cheered Bad up through the chat.

Fruit got Seapeekay

Dream got Fruit (get the birthday boy lmao)

Scott got Bad

Dream got Scott

Punz cheered Dream up through the chat

Then Dream also got Grian, and Joel (smallishbeans)

Puffy cheered up the pinks through the chat

Pinks won the first round!

“I'm putting my blood sweat and tears into this!” - Dream, 2021

Dream was literally bleeding and laughing at the same time lmao

Second-Round

Fruit got Dream

Grian got Bad

Fruit got Seapeekay

Ant and Spifey cheered Finn up through the chat.

Finn got Fruit

Finn got Scott

Joel got Finn

Jack cheered up Finn thought the chat

Purple won the second round!

Thrid-Round

Dream got Scott

Fruit got Bad

Callum got Joel

Dream got Fruit

Grian got Dream

Grian got Seapeekay

Dream told Finn to take his time, and immediately after he said that Finn got Grian

Pink won the third round!

Final-Round

When Dream was taking his time to shoot Fruit, Tommy said, "time wastr"

Joel got Bad

Callum got Scott

Dream got Grain

Callum got Joel

And then Dream fucking fell in the lava

Great birthday present Dream

Everyone was very surprised as Dream just said that game was too hard and he wanted to make it easier for Fruit

Fruit got Callum

And then Finn got Fruit immediately!!

PINK PARROTS FOR THE WIN!!

(its 3 20 am here but i still silently screamed lmao)

[Dream will donate 21000 dollars to cancer research! Sam, Skeppy, Tapl, Finn, are also gonna match/donate!]

“I’m shaking very very hard.” - Finnester, 2021

Sapnap joined their call, Scott also joined their call, and then just discussed the game.

And sadly Scott won't paint Seapeekays’s coin pink.

Puffy and Punz raided Bad.

And they again talked about the event and stuff.

Then I may or may not have switched to George's kinoko kingdom 'lore' with Karl 👀

Then I went back to Bad, who was thanking everybody, and Bad, you were not the dead weight, you popped off, no one was the dead weight, everybody did very poggers!

Then he called skeppy, and then they talked, their 'muffiny talks'

It was honestly so cute

And then he joined the call of others, who were just discussing the game, then they talked about Sylvie popping off, I kind of stopped paying attention, I was very very sleepy.

Then they talked about how the four muffinteers should team up for the next mcc.

I'm sorry, I would’ve elaborated more, but my health wasn't the best sorry :(

They just discussed the game and all.

And

What

The

Fuck

was happening on George’s stream?

Well, it was just plain chaos, but I was still watching it.

It was 4 am by then

and I was very much sleep-deprived.

when dream fell in the lava in dodgebolt, most of the other teams thought he did that on purpose

they really popped off in parkour tag (Dream and Seapeekay were CRACKED) and the way Finn suddenly cracked in the fourth round was phenomenal,

they ALSO popped off in tgttosawaf (Bad did so good except in the 6th round lmao)

their communication was good in survival games, but they were more on the defensive side, and they just jumped in when there was a crowd, like seapeekay said, they should’ve just waited for clean up.

but they crushed sands of times!! (Bad especially)

their communication in grid runners was really good, they figured everything out really quickly

their chemistry in sky battle was also good, maybe if lava bucket wasn't removed, they would've popped off more

and I wasn't really sure about ace race, but they all popped off, like seriously

and build mart just made my head physically hurt

I wasn't really feeling well, but I had really fun watching it!!

And once again,

CONGRATS PINK PARROTS!!!

[carewyncromwell]

“Greetings, all -- I hope that your evening is going pleasantly. For those of you who do not know me, I’m called Bat Varney, and yes, I am a vampire, but I am also an enthusiast for most every kind of knowledge, including knowledge involving my absolute favorite holiday -- the feast of Christmas.

“As always, my mundane would like to remind you that for more of my thoughts and lectures regarding Christmas, you may consult the ‘Bat Comments on Christmas!’ tag, and that you may always send in more Christmas-related queries by owl through her ‘Askbox.’ She’s permitted me to have access to the fourth wall, for those things that exist in the future I’ve not yet experienced, since the era I occupy is what my mundane refers to as the ‘Fantastic Beasts timeline.’”

The moving pictures of Christmas Yet to Come in particular look incredible!

“Not too long ago, I received an owl from one of Tory’s associates, @erinislands​​, who from I understand is the mundane of my dear Ms. Selwyn-Ellison @thatravenpuffwitch​ -- ”

“Ah, yes! Adelia does so love The Nutcracker. And for very good reason -- I will frankly never understand how so many people fail to see the true genius of Tchaikovsky's work. Even he himself apparently detested the final score, from what I gather...

“But yes, let’s start with your initial question. Although metal nutcrackers are at least as old as the 3rd or 4th century, the first nutcrackers that resembled toys appeared in the 13th century and grew more popular over time. Craftsmen would use cast iron, brass, wood, and sometimes even porcelain and mold them into different shapes, adding an iron lever somewhere on the back to actually crack the nuts. Some popular shapes included dogs, crocodiles, or other animals, with their tails being the levers, though there were also human designs too. The soldier and king designs in particular originated circa 1800 in eastern Germany. I daresay the reason that design was well-liked was the same reason toy soldiers became popular -- children heard exciting tales about wars and conquest, and wanted to playact epic battles even while being far away from the action their fathers and older family members were experiencing. Unfortunately those nutcrackers, all being handmade and very time-consuming to make, weren’t exactly easy to afford. Most households were lucky to just have one of these special hand-carved nutcrackers. That changed in 1865, when craftsman Friedrich Wilhelm Füchtner was inspired by the story ‘King Nutcracker and Poor Reinhold’ to create a nutcracker that resembled the titular king. Füchtner’s design featured a wooden torso with feet and a nose sculpted out of bread dough and rabbit fur for his hair and beard, decorated with colorful paints and a distinctive, stylized face. He would go on to mass-produce this design in the following decades, and that design remains the traditional image of nutcrackers as we think of them today. By the end of the 19th century, nutcrackers were being sold in toy stores everywhere...so what better time was there, for someone to commission a ballet adapted from a story based around such a beloved toy?

“This is where Pyotr Tchaikovsky comes in -- and truly, if anything is to answer the question of how the nutcracker became associated with Christmas, this man and his ballet are the answer. For yes, although nutcrackers, as popular children’s toys, were often given as Christmas gifts, the same way toy trains are, I would argue it’s through Mr. Tchaikovsky’s ballet that nutcrackers have remained the staple of Christmas that they are. And yet, interestingly, The Nutcracker was not successful on first run. It wasn’t even that successful in Tchaikovsky’s lifetime. Even now, I often hear Adelia lament that so few people appreciate the beauty of the score -- a sentiment I echo frequently, I assure you. Fortunately, from what my mundane has told me and from what my research beyond the fourth wall suggests, others felt similarly to us -- and it’s those others who helped introduce The Nutcracker to a new generation, who went on to give it the praise it so rightfully deserves. 

“One of those people is a Muggle named Walt Disney, a cartoonist from America, who my mundane tells me went on to found an entire film company that now owns half the world’s media.”

Now that is hard to fathom.

“In 1940, he produced a film called Fantasia, an animated ‘concert feature’ that featured music from the Nutcracker ballet. Not long later, after the end of the second World War -- ”

To think, we have to go through a second one of those, in the future?

“ -- American soldiers brought traditional German nutcrackers home to their children, increasing their popularity in the United States and reinvigorating an interest in the ballet inspired by them. In 1954, choreographer George Balanchine, who co-founded the New York City Ballet and is now considered the father of American ballet, put on a production of the show which was so popular that apparently even now, it’s recreated by his company every Christmas season to this day. The Muggle television station CBS went on to air a filmed broadcast of Balanchine’s production in 1957, which broadened its reach. By the 1960′s, the ballet was so popular in America that it was considered a holiday staple. All of the things that the critics of Tchaikovsky’s day criticized about the show instead ended up becoming its strengths. Its focus on child performers made it a perfect showcase of a ballet company’s associated school’s students. Its broad and rather loose storyline with limited action and drama made it more accessible and easy to understand without a full summary in a program. Its light-weight, childish premise made it a favorite among families and an introduction to many children to the art of ballet and to classical music overall. So truthfully, although nutcrackers are beloved in Germany and remain symbols of good luck there even now, the Tchaikovsky ballet would not be the classic it is were it not for America so passionately celebrating its brilliance until others took notice. Brilliance that -- as I mentioned earlier -- Tchaikovsky himself didn’t even see.”

((OOC: The Nutcracker ballet is one of my personal favorite things on the planet, so you can bet I loved answering this ask!! Love you, honey!! 💚💚💚))

[brookston]

Holidays 10.29

Holidays

Candies Day

Coronation Day (Cambodia)

Cumhuriyet Bayrami (North Cyprus, Turkey)

Cyrus the Great Day (Iran)

Festival of Global Climate Change

Fiestas Patrias begins (Honduras)

Hide From Everyone Day (a.k.a. Hermit Day)

International Internet Day

Laugh Suddenly For No Reason A Lot Today Day

Naming Day (Tanzania)

National Cat Daddy Day

National Cat Day

National Hermit Day

Oatmeal Day

Separation of Church and State Day

World Psoriasis Day

World Stroke Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Disgusting Little Pumpkin-Shaped Candies Day

National Oatmeal Day

Poperinge Beer & Hop Festival begins (Belgium) [Every 3 years, 3rd Friday, but postponed from 2021]

5th & Last Saturday in October

Hug A Sheep Day [Last Saturday]

National Forgiveness Day [Last Saturday]

National Take Back Day [Last Saturday]

Yellow Saturday [Saturday of Last Full Week]

Independence Days

Turkey (from Ottoman Empire, 1923)

Feast Days

Abraham of Rostov (Christian; Saint)

Chef (a.k.a. Theuderius; Christian; Saint)

Chiara Badano (Christian; Blessed)

Colman mac Duagh (Christian; Saint)

Douai Martyrs (Christian; Saint)

Gaetano Errico (Christian; Saint)

Ghatasthapana begins (Nepal)

James Hannington (Anglicanism)

Kojagrat Purnima [15th Day of Dashain]

Lazarus Long Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mary of Edessa (Christian; Saint)

Narcissus of Jerusalem (Roman Catholic Church)

Nut Day (Pastafarian)

Robertson (Positivist; Saint)

Warren the Warthog (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Historically Unlucky Day [10 of 11]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [58 of 71]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

All I Want for Christmas Is You, by Mariah Carey (Song; 1994)

The Autobiography of Malcolm X, with Alex Haley (Biography; 1965)

Being John Malkovich (Film; 1999)

Blue Moon, 24th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2019)

Don Giovanni, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Opera; 1787)

Hemispheres, by Rush (Album; 1978)

The Huntley-Brinkley Report (TV News Show; 1956)

Jingle Bell Rock, recorded by Bobby Helm (Song; 1957)

Last Night in Soho (Film; 2021)

Mind Games, by John Lennon (Album; 1973)

My Generation, by The Who (Song; 1965)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Animated Film; 1993)

The Portrait of a Lady, by Henry James (Novel; 1880)

The Sentinel, 25th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2020)

Welcome to the Pleasure Dome, by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Album; 1984)

What’ll I Do?, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Song; 1947)

Today’s Name Days

Hermelindis (Austria)

Časlav, Honorat, Ida, Narcis (Croatia)

Silvie (Czech Republic)

Narcissus (Denmark)

Alf, Alfred, Fred, Fredi (Estonia)

Alfred, Urmasimo (Finland)

Narcisse (France)

Ermelinda, Franco, Grete, Melinda (Germany)

Abramios, Melina (Greece)

Nárcisz (Hungary)

Ermelinda, Michela, Massimiliano (Italy)

Elva, Elvijs, Fortuna, Laimonis (Latvia)

Gelgaudas, Narcizas, Tolvydė, Violeta (Lithuania)

Noralf, Norunn (Norway)

Euzebia, Franciszek, Longin, Longina, Lubogost, Narcyz, Teodor, Wioletta (Poland)

Zinaida (Russia)

Klára (Slovakia)

Narciso (Spain)

Viola (Sweden)

Garrison, Cyrano, Cyrena, Narcissa, Narcissus (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 302 of 2022; 63 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 43 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Constraint) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Lùyuè), Day 5 (Yi-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 4 Cheshvan 5783

Islamic: 3 Rabi II 1444

J Cal: 2 Mir; Oneday [2 of 30]

Julian: 16 October 2022

Moon: 23%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 22 Descartes (11th Month) [Robertson]

Runic Half Month: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 4 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 37 of 90)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 7 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Hagal (Constraint) [Half-Month 21 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 11.12)